This year has been quite rush and hectic for me as I always feel that I am running out of time. I could never finished all the tasks on my list each day; it was as if some wizard had been stealing my time bits by bits. November has suddenly arrived to wake me up from my complacency with things waiting to be done. I was supposed to have next year’s calendars and pocket diary by mid-October. So, I was in a panic and was determined to get the Chinese calendars as soon as possible.
Tourists got lost and people tried to help, at the bus stop. ‘Hot bus’ is cheapest, fastest and exciting! New Road sees more tourists.
I had a very quick and light lunch before setting off to my favourite shopping mall. I could park my car there then hop on the bus which goes directly to Chinatown in about twenty minutes. The traffic jam and lack of parking space mean that the best way to get to Chinatown is by taking a taxi or bus. I prefer traveling there by ‘hot’ bus which has no air conditioning. I could take photos from the bus as all windows are opened.
New Road where Robinson shopping mall is located has a big selection of buses to all directions of the city. So, the bus stop is always crowded and lively throughout the day. Sitting high on the bus, I could observe people and things around me and let my thoughts flow along with the breeze. The bus driver often drives the bus as if he was in a race so it’s rather difficult to focus on the objects for photographing. Taking photos from a speeding bus become quite a challenge but it made me very alert.
I liked to observe people’s activities and their ways of life along my journey. I noticed several shops had been permanently closed for business and there were put up for sale. Fortunately, we have recently seen a big in flow of tourists which has given new hopeful prospect to businesses and shop owners. Things are slowly picking up as I could see more tourists walking the streets of Bangkok. The street food vendors have been doing nicely too. More smiling faces could be observed around the local bazaar and flea market.
Some old buildings along New Road have been preserved and some have been listed for conservation. The grand old post office building, with German architectural influence, reminded me of my father as we used to go there to collect letters from a rented mail-box. This old road brought back so much memories of my childhood; that’s probably why I couldn’t help going back to roam around this area. My friends couldn’t understand why I was quite reluctant to meet up with them in new luxurious shopping malls. Those new plush and shiny malls seemed like robots with no soul to me; I could never feel easy having coffee or sophisticated meal there.
This area around New Road and Bangrak are living history of Bangkok with lots of stories and elderly residence in narrow alleys. I always feel at home, easy going and safe walking around this area at night. Most vendors have known each other for years and they look after the area like home.
The bus rushed passed the whole length of New Road towards the railway station and took a left turn towards Yaowarad road. We don’t call the Chinese market as Chinatown; we call it Yaowarad. The word ‘Chinatown’ was quite new to me; it’s how Western tourism affects the changes in our culture. It’s also much easier to call this Chinese commercial hub as ‘Chinatown’. My attention perked up as soon as the bus passed the old Chinese shrine of Kuan Yin at the corner. I wondered where I could get my new Chinese calendars.
In the old days, there would be stalls selling calendars and red envelops by old Chinese vendors along Yaowarad road. But I noticed that there were much fewer elderly people’ stalls since last year. I couldn’t help wondering whether they were adversely affected by the plandemics. I scanned the footpath on the left side trying to find the old lady-vendor with whom I had bought Chinese calendars during the last four years. Sadly, I couldn’t locate her stall so I got off the bus and walk the length of Yaowarad road to make sure I just didn’t see her stall from the bus.
I had to walk up the road in the opposite direction trying to find this old lady. Perhaps her family no longer allowed her to sell calendars by the road any more. I had to find a new stall selling these Chinese calendars and I found one stall further down the road. This vendor was a bit shorter and smaller than my regular vendor; but she was nice and easy going. I could negotiate for some reduction as I bought three Chinese calendars altogether. I felt quite a sense of achievement after getting these calendars so I decided to survey the atmosphere in Chinatown.
It was nice to see young tourists and families coming here for their holidays. The early afternoon atmosphere was still very quiet as vendors and restaurants’ staff have just begun to prepare things for busy evening. Usually local crowd and tourists would start arriving after six o’clock in the evening. I had to peek at the shop where I brought my Hive friends to buy some souvenirs for their family. 
I had to take photos of this shop to remind me of the good old time in Chinatown. I just hope that they could visit Thailand again, as they didn’t have the chance to go to seaside or island in the south. Now they would be enjoying colder weather and snow at home. I could never live in freezing cold climate!
The Chinese calendar tells me that next year’s Chinese New Year would be in January 22, 2023. This sent me into another panic as it’s sooner than I had expected. It used to take place in February! But now it’s much sooner. There’s so much loose ends and packing to do which I often procrastinated as this meant facing new reality and uncertainty; I have been very afraid of leaving my comfort zone. Perhaps I need another trip to some Chinese shrines in Chinatown to ask for extra energy and determination to confront my fear without running away too often.
Wishing you peace, good health and prosperity.
Stay strong and cheerful.
